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Drivers will again be impacted by road construction projects throughout the spring and summer in Stevens Point and Portage County. Here’s a list of current and upcoming projects to consider in your travel plans and what local drivers can expect to encounter.
Stevens Point
North side project: This project area consists of Maria Drive between Second Street and Division Street; Walker Street between its western end and Second Street; and Vincent Street, between Maria Drive and Sixth Avenue. These corridors will be reconstructed, including both underground utilities and surface features. A mini roundabout will be installed at the intersection of Maria Drive and Second Street. The project is expected to begin May 13 and be completed in October, according to Scott Beduhn, Stevens Point director of public works.
South side project: Another multi-street project has already begun south of the railroad and west of Water Street. This project consists of Bliss Avenue from Park Street to Water Street; Mason Street from Park Street to Water Street; Francis Street from its western end to Water Street; and Prairie Street from its northwestern end to Francis Street. These streets will be reconstructed, including both underground utilities and surface features. As part of an effort to remove pavement in the city, the city’s engineering department has proposed not replacing about 150 feet of pavement on Prairie Street between Bliss Avenue and Mason Street. The City Plan Commission reviewed the proposal Tuesday. The project is expected to be completed in early October. Access for local traffic will be maintained as much as possible.
Portage County
Portage County B: In a multi-phase project, a little over a mile of roadway west of Interstate 39 will see several disruptions in the upcoming weeks , according to Nathan Check, Portage County highway commissioner. Between Hoover Avenue and the interstate, concrete replacement has closed both eastbound travel lanes while one westbound lane remains open. Once the eastbound lanes are finished, one eastbound lane will reopen while both westbound lanes will be closed. Access to Village Park Drive is expected to fully reopen by mid-June. The portion of the project between Hoover Avenue and Wisconsin Avenue will widen the pavement median, refresh the curbs, gutters or asphalt shoulders, add a sidewalk, add an asphalt multi-use path and add a traffic signal at the Mecca Drive intersection. Access to businesses and residences will be maintained throughout the project in this section. The project is expected to be completed in November.
Portage County AA: This roughly four-and-a-half-mile project lies between Portage County D and State 22. The road will undergo reconditioning, which will include improving the road profile, pavement structure and drainage while replacing deteriorated asphalt surface. Access will be maintained for local residents and businesses but all other traffic should use alternate routes.
Portage County S: Between Portage County P south to County Line Road is over six miles of Portage County S, which also runs along the border between Wood and Portage counties. This project will consist of resurfacing the existing road by laying about 2 inches of new asphalt surface on top of it. Access will be maintained for local residents, businesses and emergency vehicles but it will be closed to thru traffic. Work is expected to begin June 10.
Highway projects
Interstate 39: From State 54, or Exit 151, north to Stevens Point’s North Second Street, or just north of Exit 161, will have its asphalt pavement resurfaced along with most of the ramps through a thin mill and overlay process, according to Bryan Rose, Department of Transportation communications manager. Other improvements will include resurfacing of Portage County HH/McDill Avenue between the on- and off-ramps, replacement of infall and outfall structures on the U.S. 10 southbound ramps, geometric improvements to the U.S. 10 northbound on-ramp, and high-friction surface treatment beneath the North Second St. bridge. The project is expected to begin in July. Work will take place with single-lane closures and nighttime ramp closures. Closures at U.S. 10 will have detours posted but other ramp closures will not.
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Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA-TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Reach him at epfantz@gannett.com or connect with him on X (formerly Twitter) @ErikPfantz .
This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: Here's how road construction will impact your travel plans in Stevens Point, Plover and Portage County
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